The Dombes group – an ecumenical perception of catholicity

The publication by the Groupe des Dombes, a Francophone ecumenical group, on the catholicity of the Church (2023) is a comprehensive analysis, based on biblical and historical material, of the third attribute of the Church. It deals with the understanding of the Church itself from the perspective of asymmetrical ecclesiologies, recognizing the differences that exist within them, sometimes very painful, but also taking into account the efforts of ecumenical dialogue already made. As the fruit of their work, the Groupe des Dombes proposes a thesis that can be summarised as the postulate of ‘one Church, albeit in imperfect communion’. With it come concreto calls for the conversion necessary on the Christian journey towards unity.